Duplicator



April 21, 1953 G. A. SCHWAB DUPLICATOR 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1951 INVENTOR. Geozye A Sch waZv Patented Apr. 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DUPLICATOR George A. Schwab, Fairfield, Conn.

Application September 12, 1951, Serial No. 246,304 4 Claims. (01. as-23) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines and has particular relation to a machine for duplicating difficult forms or designs in various materials as, metal, plastics, etc.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine for the purpose specified and including means whereby the machine is readily adapted for use of various sizes of cutters for light or heavy cuts.

Another object is to provide a machine of the character indicated and including means adapting the machine to provide the feel or touch best suited or liked by each individual or operator. i

A further object is to provid a machine having the features indicated and which is readily adapted for the operation known as quilling.

Yet another object is to provide a machine for the purpose set forth and which includes an improved structure of mounting of the movable parts, an improved drive structure, which may be used as either a bench or pedestal type machine, which may be mounted on a milling machine or the like for the accomplishment of certain work by such milling machine or the like and can be used for its normal functions to complete work while yet mounted on said milling machine or the like, and which may also be used as a profller.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein a satisfactory embodiment of the invention is shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my duplicator;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view thereof;

' Fig. 4 is a vertical detail sectional view, on a larger scale, and taken as along the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing a loaded pulley mounting for maintaining taut at all times a driving belt between the motor and cutting tool of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail plan view of a friction means for resisting free movements of a carriage; and Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view, enlarged, showing a feeler device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, at H] is generally indicated a base or supporting structure shown as in the form of a hollow rectangular frame including sides II and [2, a forward end !3 and a rear end Hi. If desired, this supporting structure l0 may be solid structure rather than the frame described, although as a general rule the described frame may be made heavy enough for all practical purposes.

End members I3 and [4 have formed therewith mounting ears l5 and I6 for use in mounting the described supporting structure on a bench or on the table of a milling machine, etc. While the above implies that, the present structure is a bench type machine and it is disclosed as such, it will be understood that the frame structure I0 may be part of a pedestal should a pedestal type of machine be wanted.

On the forward portion of structure In is a work holder l1 shown as a relatively heavy large size plate having T-slots l8 and I9 for use in clamping work thereto. On the outer sides of the rear portions of the sides I! and 12 of the frame ID are ways and 2|. Such ways in the present disclosure comprise rods which are hexagonal in transverse section and the rods are secured against the outer surfaces of the sides II and [2 by screws or other means 22 having their heads countersunk into the rods.

Straddling the rectangular supporting structure or base I U is a carriage generally designated 23 and which is in the form of a shallow inverted U comprising a connecting portion 24 and depending side arms 25 and 26. Such side arms span the ways or rails 20 and 2| and each such side arm carries a pair of rollers 21 and 28 rolling against a pair of the surfaces of the hexagonal rails or ways whereby the carriage Z3 is mounted on the rails and is constrained. against movement except forwardly thereon toward the work holder I 1 and rearwardly thereon from such work holder.

Supported from the upper side of carriage 23 and movable therewith as the carriage is moved along the ways 20 and 2i and also movable relative to the carriage, as will be explained, is a frame generally designated 29. Frame 29 is a pantograph structure and comprises forwardly and rearwardly extending parallel members 3% and 3| and a pair of spaced rigid links 32 and 33 extending between forward and rearward portions of the members and 3|. Link 32 is pivotally connected at its respective ends to the members 30 and 3| as by vertical pivot pins 34 and 35 while link 33 is similarly connected with the members 30 and 3| by vertical pivot pins 36 and 31.

A bearing structure 38 on the forward end portion of member 39 mounts a vertical spindle 39 at its lower end carrying a collet or tool holder 40 to mount a tool 4|. On said spindle, above the tool holder 40, is a pulley 42, the purpose of which will be set forth. Here it will be clear that as the member 30 andthus the frame 29 is moved, the bearing 38 and thus'the tool 4! will be moved with it.

On the forward end portion of the frame member 3| is a housing structure 43 through which extends means supporting at its lower end a stylus 44 and the above described means includes a threaded shaft 45 which maybe adjusted up and down in relationto a nut ifior through the instrumentality of a nut 46 with which it threads, the structure being adapted for micrometer adjustments of the stylus 6G to- 'ward 'andfrom the work holder.

'Associated'with the stylus as "and'thus mounted on the housing 43 is :a feeler device generally designated 41 and (see Fig. '7) comprising a housing 48'through whichextends a'feeler pin 49. Withi'nthe housing is a coilspringbll surrounding the pins'at its 'upper end ag'ainst'a wall '5l 'and'at its lower end against a washer or'stop 52 of the'pin'49. A nut 53' onthe upper end por-- tion ofthe 'pin'an'ol engaging the upper end of 'the housing '48 'limits the extent to which the pi'nmay be projected but does not interfere with the upward movement of the'pin due to pressure against the lower end'of the pin and which upwar'dmovement results incompression of the 'spring '50. The purpose ofthisfeelerstructure will be made clear in the description of the operation of the present machine.

Approximately midway between'the links 32 "and 33"the members 3Uand 3| on their inner sidesare formed with ears 54 and 55'respectively,

and a motor plate5B extending between these "earshas its end portions pivoted to them by verticallyextending'pivot means ii'land 58, respectively. Motor plate 56 midway its ends supports' a m'otor"59' having its'depending shaft 63 mounting and driving apulley 6| located in the :plane of the pulley 42 previously mentioned. *A

spring loaded takeup Lpulley 62is mounted on a shaft or pivot 63 and is'located ,between'the arms "64 ofa yoke structure which latter includes a"stem portion 65 passing'longitudinally through a housing 66 secured against the outer :side of :a depending ear 6! carried by the member 3i.

p=asses'apin 12, the purpose of which isto prevent said'stem' portion from" rotating about its own axis and thus the pin maintains the pulley '62 in ahorizontal position.

Trained aboutthe' pulleys 62,161 and 42 is an endless driving belt 13.. This belt is driven by the motor 59' and serves to rotate the tool 4!.

Spring 68 is constantly urging the stem 65 outwardly through the housing '66 "and thus through the pulley 62 is pullingon'the beltl3 to "maintain the latter taut.'

A'pair'of 'L-shaped bracket'members Hand 15 have their shorter base portions 16 and 11 dis- 4 posed against horizontally spaced portions of the upper surface of connecting portion 24 of carriage 23. Similar vertical pivot means 18 and 19 pivot said base portions 16 and Ti against and to the mentioned carriage portion but for turning movement thereto about the longitudinal axis of said pivots. As best shown in Fig. 4, bearing means 83 surround the pivot portions in the base portions of the bracket members 14 and [5. Depending from the frame members 30 and 3! are'ear-like portions 8| and '82 having lower end portions 63 overlapping with upper end portions 84 of the upstanding arm portions of the bracket members 14 and i5. Aligned horizontal pivots 85 and tfi pivotally connect the overlapping portions83 and 84 of the ear 8| of member 3i andthe upstanding arm of the bracket member 74 and the ear 82 in the upstanding arm of the bracket member 15, respectively. These horizontal pivoting means are aligned and they may'be'fixed'in the mentioned arms of the bracket members l4 and T5 butare in bearings '81'11'1 the depending overlapping portions 83 of 'the ears *8 I "and 82. v

From the foregoing description it will now be understood that thecarriage' 23 when it is moved forwardly and rearwardly on the ways 23 and 2!, will carry the frame 23 forwardly and rear- :wardly' and thus carry the tool 4! and the stylus 44 forwardly and rearwardly over various portions of the work holder I1. Also, it will be understood that the entire" frame structure'including the bracket members" and 15 may be swung horizontally, said bracket members turning on the respective pivot 13 and 19. In addition, the frame structure may be rocked up and down about an axis represented by the centers of the pivots $5 and 88. I The frame may be locked in a horizontal position by inserting a captive locking pin 88 through an opening 89 in the upstanding arm ofbracket member i5 and into an opening 9%] in the depending ear portion 33 of -the member 30 when such openings are in registry. On bringing these openingsto registry, the frame 29 is horizontal and itis easily lockedinthat position by the insertion of the pin 88 as described. Tobievent its loss, this pin is shown as attachedj to the frame member 3 l by a chain-9l. When the frame 29 is so locked againstrocking movement about the mentioned horizontal-axis, the machine is adapted for use asa profiler. In the use of these machines, a great deal depends on the operator and different operators may use the same ina-chine' in slightly difierent manners depending on the touch or "feelof various operators. 'Ifo keepthe frame29 firmly balanced, if tha t is the wish of the operatorfa rod 92 isfixed to the link l33 of the frameand such rod mounts a counterbalancing weight 93 adjustable longitudinally of the rod to bring the entire frame more'into or more; out of "balance as may be best for any particularoperator.

Additionally, to provideifor 'the individuality of the operators, the feeler finger 49 is provided. It preferably proj ects* slightly below the stylus 44 so as to engage the work first and then as'the stylus is brought into engagement-"with the work this is; only accomplished by forcing the'feeler finger d9 upwardly against the tendencyof the spring 59.}Of, course,*such anmactionis necessary to 'b'ring the cutting tool-4i into engage- 'ment with the work, it being understood that the stylus 44 will-:be following-the contours *of a piece, which contours aret'o'be duplicated-inan- 5 other piece by the tool 4 I. Rather than have the feeler pin 49 springloaded, it may comprise. part of a closed hydraulic system wherein movement of the fin er inwardly displaces a. fluid.

In addition to the above, a bracket 94 is secured against .the underside of the connecting portion 24 of carriage 23 and this bracket has arms 95 through which pass a stem 96 at one end carrying a yoke 91 mounting a roller 98 riding against the inner face of the side I2 of supporting structure I0. A coil spring 99, bearing against bracket 94 and a nut 99a, is constantly urging the roller against said surface whereby to provide a resistance against free sliding movement of the carriageon the rails 20 and 2|. Clearly, nut 99a may be threaded along the stem 96 to adjust the spring and the pressure with which the latter holds the roller against the side I2.

A slot I in the stem 96 and a pin IOI carried by one of the bracket arms 95 and passing through said slot holds said stem and thereby the roller 98 against turning movement about the longitudinal axis of the stem. Thus, the spring loaded roller 98 provides additional means giving the machine a feel since it avoids any free forward or rearward sliding movement of the carriage.

For light work it is desirable that the frame 29 be of light weight and easy to manipulate. However, when heavy cuts are to be made by the tool, it is desirable that more weight be available in the frame to restrict any tendency it might have toward up and down or other free movement. To this end,'the frame members 30 and 3| are provided with grooves I02 in their outer surfaces and are also provided with nut carrying studs I03 and elongated weights I04 having slots I05 opening through their lower ends to accommodate the studs I03 are provided. These weights I04 are simply slipped over the studs I03 and then nuts I06 may be tightened against the weights so that they have no free movement relative to the frame. In this way, the frame may be made heavier and steadier, not only for use when the tool makes a heavy .cut but also to eliminate all possible vibration. In most instances, whether or not weight is added, the amount of the weight added will depend on the size of cutter 4! being used.

When using the machine, the frame 29 and parts carried thereby are balanced about a horizontal pivot and are mounted on the slide for back and forth movement and are also laterally movable about the vertical pivots I8 and I9 and thus thestylus and the cutter may readily follow any movement permitted by pressure of the stylus against the model being copied. The weight of the members .30 and 3| of the pantograph or frame is determined by the size of the cutter and the amount of material to be removed. Thus weights I04 are added or removed, depending upon whether a heavy cutter is being employed for heavy cuts or whether a small light cutter is being employed for light cuts. The proper weight prevents throwing or jumping.

For the removal of bulk or stock in the making of large dies or forms, a method of milling known as quilling may be used. This is accomplished by attaching to the frame member 3I an arm I0I which extends beyond the forward end of the machine which is to be used under the arm of the operator. This allows for the use of large milling cutters. After hogging the bulk of the stock out of the piece, the handle is removed and the machine is utilized by the operator grasping the 6 machine in the vicinity of the housing 43 mounting the stylus 44.

It will be'noted that the cutter is rather indirectly driven and thus considerable power may be applied to it and also I have provided means for maintaining the belt I3 taut, it being noted that on sidewise movement of the frame about the vertical pivots I8 and I9 there may be some movement of member 30 toward member 3I.

For very heavy work, the present machine may be mounted on the bed of a vertical miller and heavy cuts made using the miller. Then for finishing the work, the miller bed may be lowered and the work finished without removing the present machine from the bed of the milling machine. In connection with the matter of getting into the machine the feel favored by individual operators, it will be understood that various strengths of springs 50 may be used and that, if desired, means may be provided for increasing or decreasingthe tension of the spring 50.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is: I

'1. In a machine of the character described, a supporting base, a work holder at the forward end of said base, a pair of horizontal transversely spaced parallel guide rails mounted on said base, a carriage having end portions and a horizontal connecting portion extending transversely across the upper side of said base, roller means carried by said end portions engaging said rails whereby said carriage is movable in longitudinal parallel relation along said rails toward and from the forward end of said base, cooperating means respectively carried by said carriage and said base constraining movement of said carriage except in longitudinal parallel relation to said rails, a pair of vertically fixed vertical pivot means carried by said connecting portion of said carriage, one adjacent each end, a pair of bracket members, each having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding arm portion, said base portions being respectively pivotally mounted upon said vertical pivot means, horizontal pivot means respectively carried by said upstanding arm portions of said bracket members, a pantograph frame above said carriage and comprising a pair of parallel side members and spaced rigid links pivoted at their respective ends to said side members whereby the latter are maintained in parallel relation, said side members each having a mounting part pivotally mounted upon said horizontal pivot means of said bracket members, a motor carried by said pantograph frame, a tool at the forward end portion of one of said side members, means whereby said motor drives said tool, and a stylus on the forward end portion of theother of said side members.

2. In a machine of the character described, a

supporting base having a pair of longitudinal outer sides, a work holder at the forward end of said base, a pair of horizontal transversely spaced parallel guide rails, one mounted on each of said outer sides, and each having longitudinally extending upper and lower track surfaces, a carriage having end portions respectively outwardly of said rails and a horizontal connecting portion extending transversely across the upper side of said base, roller means carried by said end portions respectively engaging the upper track surfaces of said rails whereby said carriage is movable along said rails toward and from the forward end of said base, other roller means respectively engaging the lower track surfaces of said rails and constraining movement of said carriage except in longitudinal parallel relation to said rails, a pair of vertical pivot means carried by said connecting portion of said carriage, one ad- 'jacent each end, .a pair of bracket members, each having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding arm portion, said base Jportions being respectively pivotally mounted upon said vertical pivot means, horizontal pivot means respectively carried by said upstanding arm portions of said bracket members, a pantograph frame above said carriage and comprising a'pair I of parallel side members and spaced rigid links pivoted at their respective ends to said side members whereby the latter are maintained in parallel relation, said side members each having a mounting part pivotally mounted upon said horizontal pivot means of said bracket members, a

said base, a pair of horizontaltransversely spaced parallel guide rails; one mounted on each of said outer sides,- anel each having longitudinally extending upper and lower track surfaces, said lower track surfaces :being transversely inclined downwardly and inwardly, a carriage having end portions respectively outwardly of said rails and a horizontal connecting portion extending transversely across the upper side of said base, roller means carried by said end portions respectively engaging the upper track surfaces of said :rails whereby said carriage is movable along said rails toward and from the forward end of said base, other roller means respectively engaging the lower track surf-aces of said rails and constraining movement of said carriage except in longitudinal parallel-relation to said rails, the axes of said other rollers being transverse and parallel to said lower track surfaces, a pair of vertical pivot means carried by said connecting portion 1 of said carriage, .one adjacent each end, a pair-of bracket members, each having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding arm portion, said base portions being respectivelypivotally mounted uponsaid vertical .pivot means,

horizontal pivot means respectively carried by said upstanding arm portions of said bracket members, a pantograph frame above said carriage and comprisingapair of parallel side members and spaced rigid links pivoted at their respective ends to saidside members whereby the latter are maintained in parallel relation, said side members each having a mounting partp'ivotally mounted upon said horizontal ,pivo't ,means of said bracket members, a, motor carried by said 'pantograph frame, a tool at the forward end portion of one of said side members, means whereby said motor drives said tool, and a stylus on the forward end portion of the other of said side members.

4. In a machine of the character described, a supporting base, a work holder at the forward end of said base, a pair of horizontal transversely spaced parallel guide rails mounted on said base, a carriage having end portions and a horizontal connecting portion extending transversely across the upper side of said base, roller means carried by said end portions engaging said rails whereby said carriage is movable in longitudinal parallel relation along said rails toward and from the forward end of said base, cooperating means re spectively carried by said carriage and said base constraining movement of said carriage except in longitudinal parallel relation to said rails, a pair of vertically fixed vertical pivot means car.- ried by said connecting portion ofsai-d carriage, one adjacent each end, a pairof bracket members, each having a substantially horizontal base portion and an upstanding armportionrsaid base port-ions being respectively pivotally mounted upon said vertical pivot means, horizontal pivot means respectively carried by said upstanding arm portions of said bracket members, a. pantograph frame abovesaid carriage and comprising a pa'ir of parallel side members and spaced rigid links pivoted at their respective end to said side members whereby the latter are maintained in parallel relation, said side members each having a mounting part pivotally 'mounted upon said horizontal pivot means ofsaid bracket members, a motor carried by said pantograph :frame positioned between said side members with its centralaxis substantially coincident :to a plane extending through said vertical and horizontal pivot means, -a tool at the forward end portion of one of-said side 'm'emberspmeans whereby said motor drives said tool, and a stylus .on theforward end portion of the other of said sidemembers.

GEORGE .A. :SCHW AB.

References Cited in :the file of this patent UNITED STATESPATENTS Great Britain 1908 

